Results 1,421-1,440 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Estimates for Public Services 2006: Motion (Resumed). (23 Nov 2005)

Dermot Ahern: That was a very interesting contribution which illustrates the complete divergence of views between Fine Gael and the Labour Party, not to mention the Green Party——

Estimates for Public Services 2006: Motion (Resumed). (23 Nov 2005)

Dermot Ahern: ——regarding the monopoly of Dublin Bus.

Estimates for Public Services 2006: Motion (Resumed). (23 Nov 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I will not take lectures from Deputy Mitchell on the west. It was her own party colleague and namesake, the late Deputy Jim Mitchell, who referred to Knock Airport as a foggy boggy mountain which would not be a success. I will not accept any questioning of our commitment to the west regarding Shannon Airport.

Estimates for Public Services 2006: Motion (Resumed). (23 Nov 2005)

Dermot Ahern: In approaching the Estimates process I wished to secure funding that would allow us to promote Ireland's political, economic and humanitarian interests in the European Union and the wider world; to advance the process of securing peace, reconciliation and partnership on the island of Ireland; and to protect the interests of Irish citizens abroad. I am pleased to say the achievement of all...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (24 Nov 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Department occasionally re-employs, on a temporary basis, a small number of former officers, including some who have retired, in order to meet short-term needs and exceptional work demands. Examples of such demands are special tasks for the EU Presidencies, for specialised UN-related work such as the law of the sea, and for archival scanning and research. The number of former employees...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (29 Nov 2005)

Dermot Ahern: One of the core objectives of the Department of Foreign Affairs is to provide consular assistance to Irish citizens who live or travel abroad. The main consular services provided by our embassies and consulates abroad are as follows: issuing emergency passports, assisting victims of serious accidents, illnesses or crime, assisting people detained, arrested or imprisoned abroad, transferring...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (29 Nov 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Irish Embassy in Madrid was informed on 9 August 2005 of the tragic death of a person in Ibiza and subsequently assisted the family with the repatriation of the remains. Officials from the embassy liaised directly with the police investigating the death, as well as the pathologist, the undertakers, the court and the doctors who had treated the deceased. The autopsy report has been...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (29 Nov 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I am aware of the case to which the Deputy refers. The person concerned was arrested and taken into custody on 20 November 2005 on a number of immigration related charges. Following a court appearance on 22 November 2005, he was released on bail pending his hearing which has not yet been scheduled. The Irish Consulate in Boston has been in contact with him and will be monitoring the case closely.

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (29 Nov 2005)

Dermot Ahern: My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Treacy, chairs the interdepartmental co-ordinating committee on European Union affairs. A key function of the committee is to monitor the transposition of EU legislation by Ireland and any infringement proceedings taken against Ireland by the European Commission. The committee is engaged in discussions on the further strengthening of national...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (29 Nov 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Under the Government's decentralisation programme, announced in December 2003, the development co-operation directorate, DCD, of the Department of Foreign Affairs, currently based in Dublin, is scheduled to decentralise to Limerick. This will involve the relocation of 123 posts and is scheduled to take place during the first quarter of 2007. Already, a total of 28 posts in the directorate,...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (29 Nov 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I met the Secretary of State, Mr. Peter Hain, in Dublin on 19 October when we jointly chaired a meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference. At that meeting, the Secretary of State and I underlined our determination to work with the political parties to continue to restore trust and confidence and to rebuild political momentum in the peace process. In that context, we indicated...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (29 Nov 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Ireland has maintained a resident mission in Lesotho since an aid office was opened there in 1978. The status of the office was subsequently changed to a Consulate General. The role and responsibility of the Consulate General is to oversee and manage the implementation of the aid programme in Lesotho, which is the Government's longest running programme. In the context of diplomatic changes...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (29 Nov 2005)

Dermot Ahern: In the past six months, my Department has not undertaken any projects which, in accordance with the Department of Finance Guidelines for the Appraisal and Management of Capital Expenditure Proposals in the Public Sector, would have required the carrying out of a detailed cost benefit analysis.

Written Answers — Foreign Adoptions: Foreign Adoptions (30 Nov 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Responsibility in this area is primarily a matter for the Department of Health and Children and the Adoption Board. The ambassador in Moscow, who is also accredited to Belarus, is available to help in every way possible. When I visited Minsk on 9 June 2005, in my role as envoy of the United Nations' Secretary General, I took the opportunity to raise with the Belarussian Minister for Foreign...

Written Answers — Undocumented Irish in the USA: Undocumented Irish in the USA (30 Nov 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The welfare of undocumented Irish people in the US is a matter of the highest priority for the Government. In all our contacts with US political leaders, including when the Taoiseach and I met with President Bush earlier in the year, we emphasise the importance of addressing the situation of this vulnerable section of our community in a positive and sympathetic way. In doing so, we recognise...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (30 Nov 2005)

Dermot Ahern: As set out in previous replies to parliamentary questions, most recently on 10 November 2005, the Government, together with its EU partners, is broadly supportive of the efforts of the Colombian Government to develop a peace process in that country. In that context, the European Union has consistently stressed the need for a negotiated peace settlement in Colombia and has called for illegal...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (30 Nov 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The situation remains as set out in my replies to several previous questions, most recently Question No. 374 of 22 November 2005. The Government has on many occasions made clear to the US authorities that it would be illegal to transit prisoners for rendition purposes through Irish territory without the express permission of the Irish authorities, acting in accordance with Irish and...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (30 Nov 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 168 and 169 together. I am aware of the report entitled An Act of Free Choice, published in the Netherlands on 15 November by the Institute of Netherlands History. The overall position is that members of the European Union accept that Papua forms part of Indonesia. The Dutch Government, for instance, in responding to the report in the Netherlands' Parliament,...

Written Answers — Overseas Armed Forces: Overseas Armed Forces (1 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Issues relating to the Portuguese armed forces are an internal matter for the Portuguese Government. I understand, however, that Portuguese law provides for the right of association for the members of the armed forces though it also allows for restrictions upon that right.

Leaders' Questions. (6 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Deputy Rabbitte should watch his steps.